diff --git a/src/views/system.js b/src/views/system.js
index fd1cc2d6b..c51d1cf25 100644
--- a/src/views/system.js
+++ b/src/views/system.js
@@ -61,14 +61,17 @@ angular.module('Application').controller('SystemController', ['$scope', '$locati
             refresh(serviceName, function (error, result) {
                 if (result.status === 'active') return;
 
-                setTimeout(function () { waitForActive(serviceName); }, 1000);
+                setTimeout(function () { waitForActive(serviceName); }, 3000);
             });
         }
 
+        $scope.services.find(function (s) { return s.name === serviceName; }).status = 'starting';
+
         Client.restartService(serviceName, function (error) {
             if (error) return Client.error(error);
 
-            waitForActive(serviceName);
+            // show "busy" indicator for 3 seconds to show some ui activity
+            setTimeout(function () { waitForActive(serviceName); }, 3000);
         });
     };